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Mar 19, 2009
Chad
rated it: 
I recently reviewed a Don DeLillo novel in which I pointed out that author's tendency to meander around with a central character, but without a real plot. 'Wakefield' is very much in this same vein, so its overall quality was greatly going to be effected by how effectively Codrescu could write the plotless world inhabitited by the novel's eponymous character.
The verdict (or my verdict anyway), is that he's almost successful. The plot of the novel (which only notionally plays a part More...
The verdict (or my verdict anyway), is that he's almost successful. The plot of the novel (which only notionally plays a part More...
Sep 07, 2009
Linda
rated it: 
I'm almost at the halfway point of the audio version, and if something doesn't change my mind in the time it takes me to drive to work in the morning, I'm giving up. The writing comes across to me as intensely male, in a way that makes me feel I could never hope to understand anything that happens inside an XY brain. This book is trying hard to convince me that approximately 70% of U.S. residents have thick Eastern European accents. Perhaps that's true, and I'm simply not talking to the right
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Aug 11, 2009
Michelle
rated it:
Sort of like absurdistan with a faustian complex. Not much happens but people talking. Some of it is very clever.
Zamyatin: There is a salty, red-haired beauty standing by each shelf, reading over the top of her glasses.
Wakefield loves libraries, and has forever inscribed in his memory a schoolgirl masturbating quietly in government documents.
Zamyatin: The library is the eminent symbol for opposing barbarity. It is synonymous with civilization. Great libraries More...
Zamyatin: There is a salty, red-haired beauty standing by each shelf, reading over the top of her glasses.
Wakefield loves libraries, and has forever inscribed in his memory a schoolgirl masturbating quietly in government documents.
Zamyatin: The library is the eminent symbol for opposing barbarity. It is synonymous with civilization. Great libraries More...
Apr 01, 2009
It's a comic novel from New Orleans, so John Kennedy Toole comparisons are inevitable. But Codrescu's his own voice, and a compelling one at that. There's the same fatalistic, cosmic sense of humor that I found in Stanley Elkin, which is a wonderful, rather rare quality in fiction. Especially fiction that deals with a protagonist whose life is as banal as that of a motivational speaker. I've read more satisfyingly vicious comic novels, but this remains an excellent one, largely because of it
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Mar 18, 2010
J.
rated it: 
Maybe Andrei Codrescu is liked by many people, undoubtedly he is because he has a number of books out.
However, I only was able to read about half of this book and put it down. I am a person who hardly ever puts a book down, as I will garind my way through most of them, but this one went down.
Don't know what others see in it, but as for me, forget it.
Sorry about that.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
However, I only was able to read about half of this book and put it down. I am a person who hardly ever puts a book down, as I will garind my way through most of them, but this one went down.
Don't know what others see in it, but as for me, forget it.
Sorry about that.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
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Oct 04, 2008
Billy
rated it: 
The devil and Wakefield make a deal, but it is all good and comedic and about general dropping knowledge.
Codrescu once said that Wakefield is his most autobiographical, or was that Messiah? It was written in a collection of his essays, which is numerous still.
Humph.
Anyway. Ex-wife, Marianna, women in various muse forms and the devil as his usual old Nick trickster self.
God in eternal slumber dreaming the humans up, various refs to all gods and mus More...
Codrescu once said that Wakefield is his most autobiographical, or was that Messiah? It was written in a collection of his essays, which is numerous still.
Humph.
Anyway. Ex-wife, Marianna, women in various muse forms and the devil as his usual old Nick trickster self.
God in eternal slumber dreaming the humans up, various refs to all gods and mus More...
Nov 13, 2011
Linda Hali
rated it:
Closer to 4 stars, and very funny. A little reptitious in spots, but if you have been listening to Codrescu on NPR over the years and enjoying- you will chortle at evil, admire his irony, and get to know a whole slew of characters from pedants, to cabdrivers, to the devil himself.Smart funny reading.
May 12, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
I'm not sure if I should really be putting up the books on tape that I've been listening to, but I'm going to anyways.
This was one of the books I listened to. I liked the story for the most part, but it had an abrupt ending. Maybe it isn't that way in the book, but it was in the book on tape.
This was one of the books I listened to. I liked the story for the most part, but it had an abrupt ending. Maybe it isn't that way in the book, but it was in the book on tape.
Dec 03, 2008
Orin
rated it:
This is more like a bunch of essays strung out on a feeble plot. Still, the authorial voice is (mostly) witty and engaging. If you have an appreciation for hybrids. . .
Aug 20, 2011
Phil
rated it: 
If you like hearing Andre Codrescu on NPR, you'll love this book - and you can imagine him telling the whole story. I enjoyed it! Recommended.
Sep 18, 2007
Ayelet
rated it:
I'm writing a review for this book to warn others not to read it--unless you like books that jump from idea to idea with no real overarching message. I read it for book club and I don't remember one person in our group being ecstatic about it. The upside: it was interesting to read a different type of book than I'd normally pick up.
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Dec 16, 2009
Juli
rated it:
After reading "...mon amour" i went back through and read the Codrescu's that I had not yet picked up - i will always love Wakefield, not only for being a wonderful story, but for it's "so perfect you might as well have been there" description of grabbing a beer at Molly's.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I was there that night ;)
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I was there that night ;)
Apr 01, 2007
Kelsey
rated it:
One of my favorite moments in this book was when the Devil fondled some words in his pocket. They were left over from the creation of language. Words no one had ever said in any language because he had snatched them up before anyone else could. They were described as "Long. Voweley. Yum."
Jul 13, 2008
Natalie
rated it:
This is the second book I've read by this author - mainly because I know that Tom Robbins, one of my favorite authors, is a big fan of this guy - but I don't see it. It was all right I guess, but nothing remarkable - nothing on the level I associate with Tom by any means.
Oct 22, 2007
Sadie
rated it:
The writing style is similar to Tom Robbins. It covers an immense amount of material, all threaded around a single plot, but it's much less well done than Robbins.
Feb 05, 2008
Nicole
rated it:
I especially liked his investigation of architecture as it relates to the social sciences, ancient mythologies, and, my favorite, hidden spaces.
Jun 26, 2008
Dani
rated it:
Every paragraph from every page felt like a well directed movie in my head. Loved it.
Feb 13, 2012
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